The Golden State Warriors are gearing up for a championship run in the 2025-26 season, and with a couple of roster spots wide open in the buyout market, they’re poised to make a splash. Enter Pat Connaughton—a towering 6’5″ sharpshooter with proven championship DNA—who could be the game-changing addition that reignites the Dubs’ title aspirations.
Fresh off a surprising waiver by the Charlotte Hornets, Connaughton is hitting the open market at the perfect time. Sports Illustrated’s Joey Akeley is already sounding the alarm, urging the Warriors to pounce on this underrated gem. “Connaughton is a decent shooter (35.7% from three in his career) who won’t kill your defense,” Akeley penned on Friday. “He’s played in 86 playoff games.” That’s battle-tested experience that screams “winner”—after all, this guy hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
Sure, Connaughton’s stint in Charlotte was underwhelming on the surface. The Notre Dame alum saw limited minutes, averaging just 2.9 points per game across 22 appearances. But dig deeper, and the numbers pop: he drained 40.7% of his threes, proving his elite stroke from beyond the arc is still razor-sharp. At 33, this 11-year veteran knows exactly what it takes to thrive in high-stakes environments, blending size, savvy, and shooting into a package that’s tailor-made for Steve Kerr’s system.
Imagine Connaughton slotting into the Warriors’ rotation: a 6’5″ wing who spaces the floor, crashes the boards with athleticism, and brings that intangible championship swagger to a locker room hungry for another ring. He’s not just a role player—he’s a sniper steal, the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that could patch up Golden State’s bench depth and propel them back to contender status.
The Hornets’ loss could be Golden State’s gain, but the clock is ticking in the buyout frenzy. Will the Dubs pull the trigger on this blockbuster opportunity? If they do, Connaughton’s arrival might just be the spark that turns their title hopes into reality. Stay tuned—this could be the move that shakes up the NBA landscape!